The British Broadcasting Corporation [BBC], London. April to June 1958.

£800.00

A significant document in the history of BBC Television, casting valuable light on production practices and internal procedure in the years following the end of the BBC's television monopoly. From the papers of distinguished producer Charles Chilton (1917-2013), best known for his radio series 'Journey into Space' and association with the Goon Show. The present item relates to the first of the BBC Television Training Courses.

Without date or place, but with 'tv 26.6.60' [i.e. interview broadcast by the BBC, London, 26 June 1960].

£850.00

This is the transcript of John Freeman's celebrated interview of Evelyn Waugh, broadcast in the BBC series 'Face to Face' on 26 June 1960. The Waugh interview is not among those which feature in Burnett's book 'Face to Face' (Jonathan Cape, 1964) and has never been published. Waugh was apprehensive about the interview, writing beforehand to his friend Tom Driberg, who knew Freeman from his time as a fellow Labour MP: ‘I have let myself in for cross-examination on Television by a man named Major Freeman who I am told was a colleague of yours in the Working Class Movement.

Card with letterhead of Ibstone House, Ibstone, near High Wycombe, Bucks. Postmark date 21 August 1951.

£180.00

In fair condition, lightly aged, with punch holes for ring binder. Addressed to 'John M[?] Esq. | (Far Eastern Section) | B.B.C. | 200 Oxford St | London W'. Text reads 'Alas, I have been ill with a virus infection and am going to France for a holiday with Henry, who has been ill too, and I don't think I had better undertake anything. Can I leave it till I come back – that will be at the end of September? | R. W.' In addition to two date stamps and a reference number the card carries two initialled manuscript notes on the address side.

TLS on letterhead of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Bristol. 24 June 1940.

£150.00

ONE: ACS ('R Power'). 29 Devonshire Street, London. No date. In pencil (as Item Two). Addressed to 'Mrs B. I Magraw | Ash | Canterbury'. In fair condition (as Item Two), lightly aged and worn. Begins, on the subject of a proposed children's script for BBC radio: 'Will you go ahead with Akbar? I am in a nursing Home pro. Tem – small sudden operation – septic tonsils & will be incapacitated for a fortnight.' She reassures her about the script: 'I know you'll do a good job.

On letterhead of River Court, Hammersmith Mall, London W.6. 24 October 1938.

£180.00

2pp., 4to. Forty-four lines of text. She thanks her 'for returning the plays, and thte nice things you say about them'. Mitchison's entry in the Oxford DNB has no reference to her working for the BBC, but from the context of the letter it is clear that she wrote scripts for radio broadcasts for children. Regarding the BBC she suggests that Magraw writes to 'Miss Edith MacQueen, and if I were you I think I should write out one or two synopses of broadcasts which you propose to do'.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. He has learnt with 'the deepest regret' of his 'old friend's passing'., and sends his condolences. He will be unable to attend the funeral service, as he had 'a bad fall & fractured two ribs'. He concludes: 'Herman was a great fellow, & nobody will ever replace him -'. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played as RMS Titanic went down.

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Although '[w]ords at these times seem rather empty things', he feels he must write to express his sympathy on her loss: 'To know dear Herman as I knew him, was to love him - & I am ,mindful of many happy times we had together & many kindnesses he has shown me'. He asks her to be consoled by the fact that Finck 'leaves behind him a fine reputation & a grand record of service'. According to a contemporary account: 'Joseph Lewis, senior conductor of the BBC, was born in Brierly Hill Staffs, in 1878.

On letterhead of the Programme Division, The British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London. 11 May 1939.

£35.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. He is 'so glad that you heard my broadcast and that you enjoyed hearing the numbers by your late husband. | I may say that I have always been one of his greatest admirers and have always enjoyed playing his music.' Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last tunes played as RMS Titanic went down.

Circa 1931 (year of BBC lectures) and 1932 (year of publication of book by George Allen & Unwin, London).

£1,500.00

'Plato and his Dialogues' was Lowes Dickinson's last book. It was warmly received on its posthumous publication, with its contemporary relevance recognised. In a review of May 1932, the Classical Association's journal 'Greece and Rome' declared: 'Here is material for the most exciting and stimulating discussions'. The same review said of the BBC series on which the book was based: 'if all such talks could have so happy an issue, wireless might be said to have justified itself'. And in October 1932, in another BBC radio talk, Lowes Dickinson's literary executor E. M.

Circa 1931 (year of BBC lectures) and 1932 (year of publication of book by George Allen & Unwin, London).

£1,500.00

'Plato and his Dialogues' was Lowes Dickinson's last book. It was warmly received on its posthumous publication, with its contemporary relevance recognised. In a review of May 1932, the Classical Association's journal 'Greece and Rome' declared: 'Here is material for the most exciting and stimulating discussions'. The same review said of the BBC series on which the book was based: 'if all such talks could have so happy an issue, wireless might be said to have justified itself'. And in October 1932, in another BBC radio talk, Lowes Dickinson's literary executor E. M.

Letter on letterhead of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London W1. 19 May 1943. Typescript without place or date.

£320.00

ONE: TLS. 1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged paper. The letter begins: 'Dear Mary, | I am writing a musical play called "Hearts Beloved". The central character is MARIA FITZHERBERT and it is the story of her love affair with GEORGE IV, (Prinny). I am very anxious for you to consider playing MARIA FITZHERBERT. The part would suit you very well and I think the present time is just the moment to produce a historical play on an English stage.' He has seen 'Tom Arnold's representative', who would be interested if she agreed. TWO: Typescript. 49pp., folio. No title page.

149pp., 4to. Carbon copy. On rectos of leaves only, and bound in a buff card folder with metal clasps. Internally in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn binding. The play centres around 'the "Hibiscus" night-club, one of those London resorts which are alike the despair of Social Reformers and the delight of the Forces when on Leave. It is situated somewhere between Berkeley Square and Dover Street.' The typescript is clearly an actual play and not a radio play, but there is no record of it having been performed on stage.

The duplicated typescript of the play is 79pp., folio, on 79 leaves attached with a stud. Aged and worn, with slight staining to early leaves. Accompanied by a BBC compliments slip, with the typed name of the play's producer Shaun MacLoughlin. Also present is a BBC postcard, with short typed message dated 26 July 1979: 'We are sorry but there is nothing in print for the play "Shadowfall".' A carbon copy of the typed letter from Mrs. D. G.

[2] + 170pp., 8vo. On 172 leaves, held together by a steel stud. In good condition, lightly aged, with discoloring to first leaf and the last seven leaves dogeared. The names of the crew are given on the first covering page, and the cast of characters (but not the names of the actors playing them) on the second. An interesting artefact, indicative of the continuing reassessment and reinterpretation of the works of one of Britain's great writers.

[1] + 14 pp., foolscap 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with last leaf loose. '16 DEC 1965' stamped on title and first page. Discussing such issues as 'colour service', 'improvements in performance of receivers' and 'Recording of television signals'. From the archive of Pat Hawker, and marked up by him. No other copy traced

56pp., foolscap 8vo. Stapled into brown printed wraps. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Includes sections on 'Results of field trials' and 'New developments and proposals'. Two appendices: 'Specifications of the NTSC, SECAM and PAL systems' (pp.46-50) and 'New documents received by the Ad-hoc Group' (pp.51-56). Scarce: no copies on OCLC WorldCat or COPAC. From the Pat Hawker archive.

11 + [1] pp., foolscap 8vo. Figure and two tables in text. Stapled into brown printed wraps. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Uncommon: OCLC WorldCat lists copies at the British Library, Library of Congress, Hanover and the German National Library. From the Pat Hawker archive.

Ten of the fourteen in 4to, and around 20pp each; one 18pp., foolscap 8vo; the last three 16pp., 12mo. Leaves of advertisements (2pp., 4to) inserted. In fair condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper; one issue (October 1969) with loss to cover and damage to first few leaves. The first eleven issues are mimeographed (the fourth to eleventh with offset covers on yellow paper); the last three issues are offset litho. A quirky magazine (vol. 5 no.

Published by ABC Promotion Department, February 1963. Westerham Press.

£200.00

48pp., 4to. Profusely illustrated with 'modern' layout. Internally good, in worn covers with loss to spine. Five photographs relating to the cult series 'The Avengers' feature on five pages, including three photographs of 'Mrs Catherine Gale' (Honor Blackman), one with 'John Steed' (Patrick McNee), and two of sets (one 'a special two-tier section'). Scarce: the only copy on COPAC at the National Library of Scotland. From the J. P. Hawker papers.

153pp., 8vo. In blue wraps with blue cloth tape on spine. In good condition, in aged wraps. 27 papers, printed before the conference (with number 7 'unavailable at time of printing'). Scarce: the only 'hard' copies (as opposed to 'electronic resources') on COPAC at the British Library, Sheffield and Cardiff. With 15pp. A4 'Attendance Lists', dated 7 to 8 February 1996, with photocopies of the names, addresses and 'Affiliation' of delegates. From the J. P. Hawker papers, and annotated throughout by him.

[2] + 12 + [2] pp., 4to. On shiny art paper, in laminated wraps. Attractively designed with numerous photographic illustrations. The covers, printed in two shades of blue, open up to show a ground view of the site. Scarce: no copy on COPAC or WorldCat. From the J. P. Hawker papers.

'Printed for H.M. Stationery Office by Fosh & Cross, Ltd.' 'The period from January 18th to January 31st, 1943.'

£180.00

Printed on both sides of a piece of paper roughly 38 x 100 cm. In good condition, on lightly-aged and creased paper. Folded four times. The outer side, printed in black and white, carries the article on 'the vast broadcasting network which spreads across the world from Britain', with large stylised map, with BBC microphone, indicating 'The BBC broadcasts day and night in 47 languages, to 200,000,000 listeners every week.'.

'10/41 [i.e. printed October 1941] A., P. & S., Ltd.' 'Broadcast in the Home Service of the B.B.C. on Tuesday, 23rd September, 1941.'

£220.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly-aged and creased. Beneath the cover on the front page are four quotations: 'I don't know what astonishes me most about you British - your kindness and your courage, or your blindness.'; 'Not one in ten of you knows what a German victory would mean to you.'; 'Wake up.

11 and 19 September, and 6 and 27 October 1952; all four on his letterhead of 24 Wessex Gardens, Golders Green, London.

£350.00

Totalling 5 pp, 4to. All texts clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. He begins the first letter 'I am venturing to address you on the assumption that you are the son of the revered singer DAME EMMA ALBANI, and most sincerely trust that my letter may not come amiss.' Harvey is writing an article for Albani's centenary the following year 'for Sir Compton Mackenzie's magazine The Gramophone - for November, 1952' and is 'very anxious to obtain definite details of the two UNPUBLISHED Records which Madame ALBANI made for The Gramophone Company in 1904', of which he gives the details.

[Pencil note gives date of transmission on the BBC Third Programme as 29 January 1949.]

£250.00

Folio, [ii] + 16 pp. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged and spotted paper. First page headed in pencil 'Mr. John Keir Cross' and with the following, also in pencil, at foot: 'Transmission: Sat. 29th January, 1949. | 7.45-8.25 p.m. Third Prog.' First two pages give details of the production, including the names of the producer Noel Iliff and of the seven 'Speakers': Alan Wheatley, Laidman Browne, Valentine Dyall, Patricia Jessel, Anthony Jacob, Robert Marsden and Raf de la Torre. Second page includes instructions regarding the characters of the 'Voices' and a 'Production Suggestion'.